Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Wolf’s Forced Mate Chapter 13

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Growls multiplied through the trees. One pair of eyes appeared. And then another. And then three more. The earth quivered with the weight of approaching creatures, each one far bigger than the average wolf. Including shifters.

Neil was right.

"Veronica," I hissed to my left, "why are they humongous?"

She released a shuddering exhale. "I'll have to explain that later."

"How far until we reach the fortress?"

"Another three hours, maybe?"

Shit, that's not good. I scanned the area, noticing that there were five massive wolves in total. That would be manageable enough.

As long as we could make it out alive. "Alright, everyone shift."

Each of us took our animal forms, planting our paws into the ground in a protective circle. No one in particular was in the center-we were simply guarding each other.

As it should be.

As it would always be.

Milton stomped his feet, creating an earthquake so cosmic that the five massive wolves actually backed down.

My wolfish grin couldn't be missed.

Milton, you'll take the lead, I projected to him. I pressed my shoulder to Leah's. And you'll keep in the rear.

Leah growled. I'm not weak. I can fight.

She lunged ahead before I could say anything.

For every strong muscle in Leah's body, there was one equally as stubborn. When she dove into the line, the others launched into action, doing their best to contain the erupting chaos. Two wolves darted for Milton while the other three remained behind to handle Leah.

And one of them was going straight for her throat.

Leah, duck! I warned.

But she wouldn't listen to me. She kept on racing ahead, barreling toward those open jaws. The sharp teeth dripped yellow and gray, a horrible stench thickening the air as I raced after my mate.

Veronica and Neil tackled the biggest wolf in the center. The other two disregarded the attack, focusing instead on Leah and me. Their cloudy blue eyes resembled polished stones faded by the rays of the sun. Their teeth were just as menacing as their gigantic friend's, flashing moonlight as they snapped their jaws.

We were in for a hell of a fight.

I said, duck! I knocked into Leah's side, sending her sprawling to the right just as the wolf on her side decided to pounce. My left side took a gnarly bite, causing me to yowl loudly. Next time, listen to me, woman, I warned.

Leah flipped around with a horrified glaze in her eyes. She noticed the wound and then my expression, giving me a sorrowful glance as she bowed her head and tucked her tail between her legs.

I'm just trying to help, she claimed.

I turned to the two wolves who were facing us down. Their violent growls were loud enough to vibrate my chest. It was a horrifying feeling, like we were being hunted by a T-Rex.

I know, I told her. Just follow my lead, okay? Let's work together.

Yes, sir, she replied.

Warmth flooded me. I loved the way that sounded in my head. Surely the others had heard it as well, but maybe they weren't paying as close attention as I was. While I squared off with one wolf, Leah faced the other, puffing herself up to get her size bigger. It didn't matter. These two wolves were colossal, like a lab experiment gone wrong.

I'll have to explain later-that was what Veronica had said.

Was there something Blake knew that we didn't?

The earth shook. Leah's wolf enemy was dancing in place, trying to intimidate us. But what he didn't know was the challenges that Leah and I had faced before ever coming this close to such an extravagant beast.

Instead of pain radiating between my mate and me, there was trust and faith. Instead of suspicion, there was a resolution. All without saying a damn word to each other. Was it important to talk? Always. But it wasn't necessary right now. Our souls were hashing it out as our bodies fought for freedom.

And freedom was exactly what we would achieve.

Leah and I dragged out our staring match with the two wolves. They faked lunges and snapped their jaws, trying to get us to jump back. Maybe they were even trying to corner us. But the less I responded to them, the less Leah did too. She was reading my body through her spirit and mimicking my response.

That made our attack all the more satisfying.

Our simultaneous pounce caught them off guard. While I snapped my jaws around the wolf's neck, I swung my body toward the other wolf, taking my enemy down in seconds. Leah mimicked what I did with her wolf and we knocked the two wolves together to disarm them. As big as they were, a hard knock to the head was enough to get them disoriented.

I focused on Leah and shouted, Again!

We repeated the motion, sending the wolves flying into each other as many times as possible. Once the two were unconscious on the forest floor, we turned to the others, noticing that Milton was having no trouble at all with his enemies.

But Veronica and Neil were struggling to get the gigantic wolf under control. It knocked Veronica aside and then slashed Neil's chest, sending rivulets of blood to the ground. Anger consumed me as I lunged forward, diving without a second thought to my best friend's aid. The wolf parted his jaw and welcomed me into the fold as I attempted to stop in my tracks.

I was succeeding until I hit a patch of mud.

Slipping and sliding toward my enemy probably looked more cartoonish than I would have liked. I stared into that pink throat, knowing full well that this was about to hurt more than any injury I had ever sustained. These wolves were simply too big. While the two I had faced with Leah were big, they weren't as big as this jerk who seemed more like a shifter on steroids.

I didn't want to see their human counterparts.

A shriek sounded in my head. Whether it was me or someone else wasn't clear.

But what was clear was the figure that lunged in my path. I smacked into a furry side and then spun sideways, rolling across the muddy earth that led to where Veronica and Neil were laying on their sides.

The yelp that echoed through the forest next made my heart crack in two.

As soon as I recovered my position, I saw something more horrific than I could have ever imagined. Between the jaws of my enemy was Leah-and she wasn't moving.

Red filled my vision. I focused on that deep-seated hatred, allowing it to brim to the surface as it had tried to do many hours ago. This time, I didn't stop the crimson tide from consuming me.

And this time, it would do exactly what I needed it to do.

My movements became a blur as I lunged forward. I heard another wolf behind me but didn't bother to look back as I dove into the new chaos. I leaped onto the gargantuan wolf, digging my sharp teeth into his fur repeatedly. I snapped as many times as my jaw would allow while digging my claws into his back. He roared loudly, dropped my mate, and then spun around in circles, trying to shake me from his coat.

But he wouldn't be able to get rid of me. Not when he had just tried to murder my girl. I slashed his fur until I reached the flesh beneath, clawing my way through his skin to his muscles. Flesh and blood spattered my chest. The wolf roared again, kicking and lunging to get me off his back.

Even with my rage, I wasn't strong enough to retain my position. I was airborne in minutes. This time, I landed with much more grace, turning to keep him within my sight. Veronica had him by the throat. Neil limped toward me, his chest a gaping wound that sent panic through my limbs.

Leah was on her side on the ground. Both of them needed my attention, yet the enemy needed to be defeated first.

Milton, where are you? I called out. We need your help!

A horrifying screech cut through the air. Massive wings batted above us, sending one chilling breeze after another over us. It forced the enemy wolf to his belly, providing Veronica with a better point of attack. She went for his eyeballs next. Once Milton dove into the flight, I turned my attention to Leah who was still on the ground.

Your side, she projected. It's not bleeding anymore.

Her voice was weak yet she seemed alright for the moment.

My heart resumed a normal beat out of sheer triumph. Yeah, it actually feels fine.

She struggled to lift her head, mocha-brown eyes sparkling as soon as they settled on me. See? I'm useful. I saved you from being snapped in half.

I pawed her snout. That could have also been you, girl.

Eh, I'm fine. She shakily stood up, shaking her fur out carefully. It's just a small flesh wound. Neil is in worse condition than me.

Shit, Neil-he definitely needed tending. I spun around just as Milton screeched in the background, defeating the disgusting wolf with a sickening crunch. Veronica limped back over to us while I shifted into human form and bowed over Neil. He was on his side breathing roughly.

I stroked his head. "Hang on, man. We'll get you somewhere safe."

"I can patch him up," Veronica offered. "Leah, can you find the backpack?"

Leah jogged off in search of our supplies. They were probably scattered all over the campsite. But I couldn't lose hope for us all.

Not yet.

Veronica guided my hands to Neil's chest. "Pressure. Just stop the bleeding enough for his wolf form to catch up, okay?"

"Okay."

"You're doing great."

Leah returned in her human form with two backpacks. She set them next to Veronica and knelt beside me, placing one of her hands over mine.

She nudged my shoulder with her nose. "You're shaking."

"I'm fine."

"He's going to be okay."

I nodded while staring blankly at my best friend. "I hesitated."

"No, you were trying to defend us all," Veronica reasoned as she procured bandages. "You were acting as any leader would. Better you pause to assess than do something impulsive."

"I just...froze."

Leah wrapped her free arm around my shoulders. "Stop beating yourself up. We won."

"We won this round," I corrected. "We still have to get to that stupid fortress."

Trees snapped in half and bushes rustled as Milton transformed back to his human size. He stumbled over to us and collapsed on the ground. "Was it just me or were those wolves like...really weirdly strong?"

"It wasn't you," three of us replied in unison.

Leah shook her head. "Something's up."

"A lot of something," I agreed, focusing on Veronica. "And someone knows more about it than we do."

Veronica blushed, though her focus never broke from tending Neil's wounds. She expertly patched him up after gently moving our hands away from the wound on his chest. It was already sewing itself back together. But it wouldn't be taking even this long if those had been normal wolves. And they weren't normal at all.

"There have been..." Veronica paused, shivered, and then nervously licked her lips. "Well, there were these rumors flying around my old compound."

"Rumors?" I repeated.

She nodded. "Something about Raymond hiring some scientists to do experiments."

Milton pointed to the pile of wolves in the clearing he had made with his huge dragon body. "Yeah, those basically look like the kind of dogs Mr. Hyde would probably keep around his property."

"That was pretty much the idea," Veronica explained while feeding a tonic to Neil. "Raymond wanted to create a dire wolf."

I blinked in disbelief. "But those are the stuff of legends."

"Yeah, that's literally just fairy tales," Leah said. "They're just not real."

Veronica nodded. "That's what we all thought as well. I figured my parents were just trying to keep me from sneaking into places I shouldn't go." Her features darkened. "Until I heard about the fortress just outside of town."

"The same one we're going to," I pointed out. "Where Inez is being held."

Leah shivered and then grabbed my hand. "Please, tell me they aren't trying to do experiments on my kid."

"I can't say for sure that they're not," Veronica replied slowly. "But I also can't say whether they are doing that. I have no idea why they took your kid."

"But it was your old family that did it," I snapped. "You've played both sides before. Are you doing that now?"

Hurt filled Veronica's eyes. But something else too.

Understanding.

It was like she knew why we were suspicious of her.

And that just made me feel awful.

She bowed her head. "I realize it's going to take years to prove my allegiance to your pack. I'm willing to do that."

Milton pushed my shoulder. "Come on. Give her a fighting chance."

Leah swatted Milton's hand away. "Chill, Mr. Scales. Everyone has a valid point of view here."

Milton huffed and turned around to study the trees. He made it seem like he was keeping an eye out for us, but I knew he was just nursing his hurt pride because of Leah.

"My mate is right," I said. My lips tingled with that word, mate. Even the people around us gave me a sort of curious expression, Leah included. I disregarded it.

We could cover that another time.

I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry, Veronica. I trust you enough to take us where we need to go."

She gave me a curt nod. "Once this tonic works, we can get Neil walking again."

I sighed. "While we're waiting, let's plan how we're getting inside."

Veronica pulled a map from one of the bags. She laid it on the ground next to Neil, who observed us quietly, inhaling the plan as it unfolded. We would enter through a secret tunnel without Milton, explore the dungeon area first, and then head to the main floor. "Hopefully," Veronica added, "it'll be mostly empty. But that ambush tells me they're on to us."

"They knew we would follow," I said. "So why send a ransom note?"

Veronica shook her head. "Raymond is a sadist. I understand that now that I've left. He does things to make you do things so he can strike you."

"Manipulative prick."

"Yeah, he's..." She scratched her head. "Anyway, I'm glad to be free of him. Your pack is my home now." She rested her hand over her heart. "And I'll do everything I can to prove that to you."

Leah touched my arm lightly. My expression was tight, unchanging, vividly eager to get the hell out of here and rescue Inez.

But this woman had just made herself vulnerable. The least I could do was recognize that, especially after I had promised my alpha I would.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Veronica. I'm going to do my best to trust you. I'm sorry again."

Veronica smiled weakly. "Thank you. We should head out before any other wolves show up."

That we could wholeheartedly agree on.